School’s on course to get a better grading

Headteacher Andrew Morrison with pupils at Bradon Forest School in Purton

BRADON Forest School did not get the grades to satisfy the schools inspectorate this month despite rapid improvements this year.

During an inspection at the beginning of May, Ofsted ruled the Purton school ‘requires improvement’, based on previous performance in the school data.

Headteacher Andrew Morrison, who took up the post in September 2013, said results are improving and will be validated after this year’s GCSE results are posted.

“Ofsted base their appraisal of students’ achievements on actual results,” he said.

“While the 5 A* to C including English and Maths figure for Bradon Forest was in line with the national average, the students can achieve higher.

“So while the inspectors acknowledge that current students are making much better progress in English and Mathematics and current Year 11 students are working at better levels compared to students in previous years, without the final grades from summer 2014 the inspectors were, understandably, unable to give a good grade.”

Bradon Forest was graded ‘good’ in both leadership and management, and behaviour and safety of pupils.

“Whenever any area is graded three on an Ofsted report this means that the overall outcome can only be a three,” added Mr Morrison.

“So the school remains the same grade it has been for the previous two inspections. However, as the inspectors indicate, Bradon Forest is rapidly improving and is on a journey to quickly become good or better. The key targets revolve around improving examination results and the quality of teaching to achieve these higher grades. The inspection report makes it clear that Bradon Forest is well along this journey.

“Governors, staff, parents and students will continue to work together to ensure the recent improvements made at Bradon Forest result in students achieving even higher. Ofsted will return within two years and the school wants to be able to demonstrate with actual GCSE results how far it has travelled.”

Lead inspector Ann Cox said of the school: “Students’ achievement requires improvement because progress has been too slow and results not good enough in a number of GCSE subjects.

“The quality of planning in some lessons is not good enough to help pupils develop skills and knowledge at a good pace, and not all teachers have sufficiently good skills to check students’ understanding and knowledge during lessons.

“The new headteacher, with the full support of senior teachers and the governing body, has already brought about substantial improvements.

“As a result of sytematic monitoring and good support for staff, teaching is improving rapidly. Current students are making good progress.

“The positive ethos throughout the school is supported by a strong belief that students can and will be successful.”